Middle Tennessee State University's homecoming theme may be a throwback to the 1960s, but good memories never die.

Themed "RAIDERSTOCK," homecoming week kicks off Wednesday and culminates with the Blue Raiders taking on the Blazers of the University of Alabama at Birmingham at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Floyd Stadium.

Derek Clay attended MTSU in the late 1990s and early part of the following decade. Catching up with old friends, he said, is the best part of the celebration.

"You always see someone you haven't seen in a while, so it's fun to reconnect with everyone," he said. "When I was in school, homecoming was all about partying, but now that I'm older, I tailgate with my friends, but they're really more like family."

One of the students' biggest events this year is Raiderstock: Musical Festival, scheduled from 7 to 10 p.m. Friday in the Student Union Commons. Various student bands will perform along with the Andrew Velez Band.

Music will resonate with the younger generation of current students, according to a university news release.

Rhonda King, assistant director of the MTSU Alumni Association, said the staff begins planning homecoming early each year, once the football team's home games are identified.

"What the staff loves most is building those relationships with the alumni. We have lots of multigenerational families, where everyone's a Blue Raider and they enjoy the events together," King said.

The MTSU Alumni Association will host the popular Mixer on Middle beginning at 9:30 Saturday at The Alumni House, 2259 Middle Tennessee Blvd. It's one of the prime spots to view the Homecoming Parade, which begins on Maney Avenue, travels down East Main Street before turning onto Middle Tennessee Boulevard and before ending at Greenland Drive.

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MTSU’s Dance Team is one of many university groups to participate in the annual homecoming parade.
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During the Mixer on Middle, MTSU gear will be sold, canned goods for the student food panty will be collected and an exclusive MTSU shirt will be sold. Additionally, Aspire will work with Blue Raider athletics to sell tickets to the game for $8 each.

At Mixer, the MTSU Band of Blue will perform two songs, and at that time, registered Baby Raiders will enter the parade.

Parade entrants will be announced by "voice of the Blue Raiders" Chip Walters (Class of '85) and alumna and former television reporter Heather Jensen ('99) will announce the parade. Jensen is now a community relations officer for the state Department of Transportation.

The university will also honor its Distinguished Alumni, including Vernice "FlyGirl" Armour ('97), America's first African-American female combat pilot.

This year, the Class of 1964 will be inducted into the Golden Raiders Society.

"Meeting the Golden Raiders is always fun because we take a step back in time with them, but we get to share what the future of the university holds," King added.

For a full schedule of events planned by the alumni association, www.mtalumni.com or call 615-898-2922 or 800-533-6878. Reservations may be required for some events.

Contact Mealand Ragland-Hudgins at 615-278-5189 or mragland@dnj.com. Follow her on Twitter @dnj_mrhudgins.

MTSU Homecoming Events

"RAIDERSTOCK: 4 Days of Spirit & Legacy," is the official theme of this week's homecoming celebration at MTSU. University sponsored events include the following.

Wednesday

• 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Horseshoe Pursuit, Student Union Room 306

• 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., Ribbon-cutting ceremony for MTSU's new science building. Shuttles to the site will be available from the MTSU parking lot on Rutherford Blvd. Gov. Bill Haslam is the keynote speaker

• 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Homecoming Tailgate Lunch, Alumni House. Cost is $10 per person and $8 per child 12 and under. Reservations and payment must be completed today by calling 800-533-6878 or visiting mtalumni.com.

MTSU TAILGATING GUIDELINES

• The Walnut Grove will generally open at 7:30 a.m. on game day. Tailgate activities may begin no sooner than four and one half (4.5) hours prior to kick off.

• Tailgate activities will cease 2 hours after the game kickoff, unless otherwise announced and the area will close. MTSU officials will ask those failing to comply to leave the premises.

• The dumping of hot coals in the tailgate area or in trash receptacles is prohibited.

• Glass bottles are prohibited. All beverages must be in non-breakable cups.

• No large containers or community/common drink dispensers are permitted. Any device or activity used to increase the consumption of beverages is prohibited.

• In adherence to TBR Policy, no alcoholic beverages of any kind are permitted on the MTSU Campus.

• MTSU is a Tobacco-Free Campus and the use of tobacco will not be permitted. This policy applies to all forms of tobacco products including, but not limited to, cigarettes, pipes, cigars, chewing tobacco, and snuff, as well as smokeless electronic cigarettes and other similar devices.